2014’s Best New Hunting Rifles

Here’s a short list of the best new hunting rifles available; what’s your favorite?

Though all sorts of guns made their debut at the 2014 SHOT Show in Las Vegas back in January, of particular interest are five of the best new bolt action hunting rifles that were introduced before, during and after the show.

Presented in alphabetical order are what we consider the best new hunting rifles of the year.

View the slideshow to see the rifles, and leave a comment if you think we left something out.

The Browning AB3 Composite Stalker represents the company’s effort to give you more value out of their famous line of A-Bolt style guns. To achieve a more value oriented rifle, Browning has streamlined the manufacturing process and turned to synthetic stocks for the AB3. Untouched remains Browning’s commitment to high quality barrels, with the AB3 feature a cold rolled steel and precision button rifled barrel. Available in .270 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag, and .30-06, MSRP starts under $600.

CZ 557

Making guns since 1936, Ceská Zbrojovka’s latest Mauser auctioned hunting rifle is called the CZ 557. The rifle features a new adjustable trigger system that requires no disassembly.

Unusual for a bolt rifle these days, many versions of the CZ 557 are available with factory iron sights. Available in seven popular hunting calibers, the MSRP of the CZ 557 is as yet unannounced but should be about $800.00 or so.

Kimber 84M Adirondack

When you think of Kimber, the guns that come to mind are 1911A1 pistols. However, Kimber has long made bolt action rifles and the lightweight Kimber 84M is their latest. Available in 7mm-08 Remington and 308 Winchester, the Adirondack’s 18 inch barrel is going to make for stout recoil, but as a compromise of power and five pound all day carry, the 84M is hard to beat. MSRP is $1,899.

Building on the popularity of these 10+1 capacity guns in 5.56mm, the new Mossberg MVP Series Varmint Bolt-Action Rifle is optimized for premier varmint and predator control. Its patent-pending drop-push bolt-action actually accepts AR-15 .223/5.56 NATO magazines, giving it a real oomph-factor. A 10-round magazine is included in the initial $600 price tag, and we can’t help but think about the customization we could do to this bad boy.

For those not in the know, Remington has a whole new trigger system that debuted last year for their 783 rifle. The user-adjustable Crossfire system goes from 5 to 2 1/2 pounds, creating a customizable feel with each shot. In our opinion, Remington’s previous budget conscious efforts cut too many corners; this is beginning to make up for it. Available in four new caliber choices for 2014, the 783’s MSRP starts at $451.00.